CHARLES F. “CHARLIE” THOMAS
1931-2021
Charles F. “Charlie” Thomas, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather passed away on Friday, the 15th of January 2021, at the age of 89, due to health complications from Covid-19.
He is preceded in death by the love of his life Kittsie Thomas; parents, Oliver and Mary Evelyn “Polly” Thomas; and brother, Jim Fulton. He is survived by his daughters, Kelly Thomas Alexander (Michael), Robin Thomas Klaes (Danny), and Tracy Thomas Everist (Jeff ); his cherished grandchildren, Tristan Schmidt (Mikelle), Chaz Klaes (Tany), Dakota Klaes (Joanna), Kittsie Klaes, Adam Everist, Mason Everist, Troy Everist, and Drake Everist; and as he said often his most brilliant greatgrandchildren, Mary Frances Klaes and Charlie Thomas Klaes.
Charlie lived the American Dream. Born on the 7th of September 1931, into a bluecollar working-class family in South Knoxville, Tennessee during the Great Depression, he grew up observing the hard, long, and difficult work of his parents to put a roof over he and his brother’s head and food on the table. He would say later in life “he did not like being poor.” At the age of 20, Charlie would put it “I had no degree and no experience in anything. I had a high school education, my past jobs included being an usher in a movie theater, working in my father’s woodworking business, and bagging food in the local grocery store.” But he knew his life had to change because he found himself falling in love with then 16-year-old larger than life Kitts Bertha, the next-door neighbor’s babysitter. As a devoted reader of the newspaper (which he remained dedicated to until the day he died) he responded to an ad one morning in the summer of 1951 for an Oldsmobile parts pickup/delivery person position which changed the direction of his life forever.
Over the next 20 years Charlie would combine his God given talent for numbers, recall, salesmanship, and risk taking, to learn the car business. Working his way up from running parts, selling used and new vehicles, managing lots, to finally purchasing his first dealership in Baytown, Texas in 1967, Corpus Christi in 1970, and finally Houston in 1972. Along this path, which included a short call by Uncle Sam to serve between 1954 thru 1956 at a Georgia Army base, he would credit Kittsie’s support, and the countless amazing mentors and friends who shared their wisdom including John Echols, long time childhood friend Bill Munday, and San Antonio’s own Red McCombs for his success in the car business.
In 1970, with his wife Kittsie and three daughters, Charlie would be put to the test once again. That June, his family would celebrate the Grand Opening of the 2nd Ford dealership back
in Corpus Christi only for it to be literally destroyed by Hurricane Celia two months later. Sound familiar Houston Rockets fans of 1987? He would say later he did not know “if I was broke or not.” With the support of family, his drive, and willingness to work long hours, he took a lemon and made lemonade. The storm, which had destroyed his new dealership, had also devastated the entire coast and people needed cars. Ford sent new vehicles as fast as they could, while Charlie went north to buy as many used cars as he could get his hands on to provide for the customers who desperately needed vehicles.
By 1991 Charlie had transformed the auto dealer industry by becoming a multi brand dealer, accumulating a network of automobile franchises across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Colorado. He pioneered the idea a dealer could love and sell both a Ford and ChryslerPlymouth, and everyone would benefit. His joy came from selling his customers the cars they wanted to buy regardless of the manufacturer. During this twenty-year span, he would also venture into the banking, oil and gas, hotels, movies, restaurants (didn’t you love those Charlie T’s lemon pepper zucchini strips), real estate, and of course his beloved ownership of the Houston Rockets between 1982 thru 1993 (Charlie and Kittsie loved those Rockets and the Rocket Fans).
In his 89 years on this earth, he accomplished much. He was proud to call Houston
home and all its residence his extended family. Charlie was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (www. eihonors.org/about), honored as one of Houston’s Men of Distinction (http://menofdistinction.org/mission/), and inducted into the Texas Auto Dealers Hall of Fame. He would often reflect that his partnerships were key to his success. “Picking the right people is always the answer.” His motto in life was always make an honest sale because you need repeat customers, consider the other persons perspective, and try to help them get what they want, too.
Charlie would also say his greatest achievements in life was his 61-year marriage to Kittsie, seeing each of his three wonderful daughters Kelly, Robin and Tracy graduate from college and make their own successful marks in the community, taking trips and sharing stories with his seven grandsons, enjoying his favorite granddaughter’s baked treats, and having his two great grandchildren spend the night with him.
The entire Thomas family would like to thank the countless unknown men and women at Methodist Hospital who were our surrogate caregivers for Charlie in his final days. We are confident you did all you could to comfort him.
Charlie, we all will miss your daily call with the proverbial “What are you doing”, sharing a meal at Grace’s in your favorite booth, listening to you tell a joke, getting our tails kicked in Gin repeatedly, and hearing you shuffle off to bed with the final “Good
Night” as you turned the corner. Well, goodbye for now, you lived your life well, we are sure Kittsie had another Thomas style welcome party when you arrived. God Bless!
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock this afternoon until eight o’clock this evening, Wednesday, the 20th of January, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
A memorial service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Thursday, the 21st of January, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, where the Rev. The Rev. Martin J. Bastian, Vice-Rector, will officiate.
KINDLY NOTE: for the health and safety of all guests, current state and local health protocols requiring social distancing and the wearing of facemasks are being strictly enforced at both events. Due to the attendance restriction of 125 persons at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, it is encouraged that those who are able attend the service virtually via livestream. The link may be accessed by visiting Mr. Thomas’ online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis. com and selecting the “Join Livestream” icon in the memorial service information section. There, memories and words of comfort and condolence may also be shared electronically with his family.
At a later date, once Covid restrictions have been lifted, a celebration of Charlie’s life will be held at the River Oaks County Club and will be announced once scheduled.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in his name be directed to the Houston Food Bank at 535 Portwall Street, Houston, TX, 77029; or to the charity of one’s choice.